Webster man accused of accidentally shooting friend

WEBSTER 
A New Year's Eve “game” about whether a gun or knife could be drawn more quickly led to a 24-year-old security guard accidentally shooting his best friend, authorities said today.

Daniel G. Grenon of 94 N. Main St. was arraigned today in Dudley District Court on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of improper storage of ammunition, and six counts of improperly storing a firearm.

A police report said officers were sent to Mr. Grenon's apartment four minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve.

The man who was shot, 24-year-old Ryan J. Aldridge of Shrewsbury, was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester.

Prosecutor John F. Kennedy asked that Mr. Grenon, who wore jeans and a sweater in court, be held without bail, but his motion for pretrial detention was denied by Judge Timothy M. Bibaud, who ordered Mr. Grenon to surrender his weapons and released him on recognizance. Police have revoked his license to carry a firearm.

Mr. Kennedy said Mr. Aldridge was in serious condition Tuesday night, but Mr. Grenon's lawyer, Thomas W. Brousseau, said Mr. Aldridge was recovering after surgery had been performed to remove bullet fragments from his abdomen.

Mr. Brousseau told the judge that nobody felt worse about what happened than his client, whose girlfriend was in court.

Mr. Brousseau said neither man meant to harm the other during the game. He said his client tended to his friend to try to stop the bleeding, and cooperated with police.

The police report said that Mr. Grenon believed the firearm was not loaded and had been cleared of ammunition.

Mr. Brousseau said Mr. Grenon had already surrendered his weapons to police. He said both Mr. Grenon and Mr. Aldridge possess guns.

The judge asked if alcohol was involved, to which Mr. Brousseau said Mr. Grenon had consumed just one beer, and had been tested at the police department.

“He's extremely upset by the whole situation,” Mr. Brousseau said.

The arrest report said Mr. Grenon works as a security guard for Securitas Security in Westboro.